Babies Swathed in Red

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Writer Amber Lanier Nagle

There are five of them, five beautiful little girls. Five bundles of joy with bright eyes, infectious smiles and irresistible charm. Five little angels draped in ruby red dresses with their lives stretched out in front of them.

But who are these children and why are they wearing red? These little darlings are mini ambassadors for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement, a national effort designed to increase awareness of heart disease and inspire women to take charge of their heart health. And though the babies are the picture of health, they are precious reminders that heart disease touches everyone in our society—even those who do not have heart problems.

Indeed, each of the five babies has been directly or indirectly affected by heart disease or stroke. Consider Emma Grace Sucher. As an infant, she lost her two-year-old brother, Sam, to Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped. Emma Grace will never know the joy of chasing her big brother, Sam, around the backyard or sitting quietly beside him in church on Sundays. Heart disease robbed her of a lifetime of special moments.

Little Sophie Easterday was the first great grandchild in her family, but she never got to meet her great grandfather, OG King. He died just days after her birth—another victim of heart disease. Sophie won’t have the memory of falling asleep in her great grandfather’s arms, or listening to his bedtime stories.

Young Olivia Parker almost lost her mother to a heart attack just eight days after she was born. Olivia’s birth was the happiest-ever time for first-time parents, Meredith and Jonathan Parker, but in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Meredith was just twenty nine years old when she collapsed—just seconds after noticing that her heart was beating unusually fast. Jonathan, who performed CPR until paramedics arrived, is credited with saving Meredith’s life.

Then there are the adorable Brody twins, Ava and Abigail, who will grow up in the shadow of knowing heart disease runs on both sides of their family. Their father, Louis, has high blood pressure, their uncle (Louis’ brother) had a heart attack, and their maternal grandfather passed away at forty seven of heart disease.

“Our Go Red babies demonstrate that heart disease doesn’t just affect a single person,” says Emily Daily, the regional director of the American Heart Association (AHA). “It affects everyone in a family, in a circle of friends, in a workplace, and in a neighborhood. Heart disease is the number one killer of all Americans, and most people don’t realize it’s the number one cause of death among women.”

Just as pink is the signature color of breast cancer awareness, bright red now stands for the ability of women to improve their heart health and live “stronger, longer lives,” Daily says. “Go Red for Women celebrates our energy and passion in raising awareness to eradicateheart disease and stroke. It’s a powerful sisterhood of grandmothers, moms, daughters, and girlfriends—all wearing red and supporting one another.”

Research shows that heart disease is often misdiagnosed in women, and many women don’t exhibit the classic chest-gripping heart attacks seen in the movies. “Signs and symptoms for heart disease diff er for men and women,” explains Daily. “Typical signs for men are chest pain, tingling on the left side and perspiration, while women may feel pain in their lower back, feel exceptionally tired and fatigued, or show no signs at all. Knowing the signs and making heart healthy choices everyday can mean the diff erence between life and death—especially in women.”

Daily encourages women to visit the Go Red for Women web site (www.goredforwomen.org) to learn more about heart disease and read dozens of inspiring stories. Daily expects the five babies— Chattanooga’s tiny ambassadors for healthy hearts—will also inspire people to see red, a good thing since talking about heart disease and making heart-healthy lifestyle choices will improve the lives of so many.

THE STATISTICS SAY IT ALL

Heart disease is the number one killer among women.

Cardiovascular disease kills one woman every minute —— approximately 450,000 women each year.

1 in 3 American women die from cardiovascular disease (1 in 30 American women die of breast cancer).

More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.

REDUCE YOUR RISK OF A HEART ATTACK OR STROKE

HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO EVERY DAY TO KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY:

STOP SMOKING

START EXERCISING

EAT A HEALTHY DIET

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT

REDUCE STRESS

CONTROL YOUR CHOLESTEROL

HAVE REGULAR CHECK-UPS

MONITOR YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

KNOW THE SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK

KNOW YOUR RISK FACTORS

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK

Common signs oF a heart attack may include one or more of following:

Chest discomfort. most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. it can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs of discomfort such as breaking-out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

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